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He whom Thy love makes glad as with new wine, He knows that knowledge which is from above; Full blest is he; that fulness is Divine,

And there is nothing else that he can love.

Thou art the Fount of pity; as it flows

All drink of Thine abundance infinite : Thou art the only Sun Thy country knows ; Scatter the clouds, and show us Thy true light.

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST BEHEADED

IN PRISON.

AT THE FIRST VESPERS.

I will speak of Thy testimonies also even before kings, and! will not be ashamed.-PSALM CXix.

"Quis ille sylvis e penetralibus."

WHO hither comes from shrines of the dark wood, With voice that sternly cries; and as he goes Hang on his words a growing multitude?

His is no brow that swells with fancied woes, Nurs'd in a palace or a court's repose: No reed is he which to the moaning gale Waves its tall shadow in the moon-light pale.

For thrice-ten years in desert haunts profound
He hath been rear'd to holy hardihood,

And the deep wild now hears again the sound
Of her Elijah in the solitude;

Who with his spirit bold and might endued
The thunders of God's law proclaims aloud,
To soldier, Pharisee, and humble crowd.

And now admitted to the kingly hall

Unto the subtle tyrant he draws near;
No coward fears the Prophet's heart appal,
No courtly favor wins, nor listening ear
His holy admonitions glad to hear ;
But e'en in kingly ears, severe and free,
He warning speaks of foul adultery.

To Thee, O God, the Father, Spirit, Son,
To Thee, O holy, holy, holy Three,
To Thee, O blessed Three, O awful One,
O Thou who dwellest in eternity,

All love, all might, all glory be to Thee,
A sacrifice to Thee our hearts we raise,

Make Thou them meet to sing Thine endless praise.

AT MIDNIGHT.

I am horribly afraid for the ungodly that forsake Thy Law.— PSALM CXix.

"Impune vati non erit, impotens."

NOR shall the Prophet 'scape unharm'd; The adultress, stung with guilt, with fury arm'd, Fires the fierce king: ever allied Murder and lust shall ravin side by side. Alas where guilty passion reigns! Innocent hands are given to felon chains,

But that free voice which truth commands

Cannot be held with chains, nor feel the prison bands.

E'en in the dungeon's silent gloom
He has a herald voice as from the tomb;
And bids his orphan children go

That they the Lord of life by proof may know.
The axe of death prepared to meet,

The prisoner triumphs in his dungeon seat:
The tyrant trembles, conscious sin

Keeps watch with silent scourge, and sleepless eye within.

O Lord, our hearts and hands we raise,
sacrifice to Thee of endless praise,
Who dwellest in the infinite
Of unapproachable and blessed light;
Where the Seraphic hosts do cry,
Holy, holy, holy, God Almighty,-
The Father, Spirit, and the Son,
The inconceived Three, the unutterable One.

AT THE MATTINS.

I say unto you that Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed.-MATT. xvii.

"Ecce, saltantis pretium puellæ."

BEHOLD, the price of courtly dance,
The fruit of the forbidden glance,

The head of Christ's great harbinger!
The voice, which did repentance call,
From sylvans rude to palace hall ;

Hush'd is that voice and tongue, and ne'er again shall stir.

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